Automatic weighing machine



Sept. 24, 1929.

SMITH ET AL AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet Sefit. 24, 1929, SMITH ET AL AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P 24, 1929- A. SMITH ET AL 1,729,192

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE Filed 001,. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 L 1,729,192

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR SMITH AND CHRISTOPHER SOUTHALL, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE Application filed October 15, 1928, Serial No. 312,633, and in Great Britain December 5, 1927.

This invention has for its object to proonly necessary to close a. switch (not shown). vide an improved automatic weighing ma- The magnet circuit may also be placed under chine of simple and reliable construction the control of the beam at, so that when the adapted more particularly for the weighing proper quantity or material has been fed out of small quantities of tea and other into the pan, the tilting of the beam causes analogous substances. the magnet circuit to be opened.

The invention comprises the combination The teed regulator (shown in cross seewith a supply hopper and a pan on a weigh tion at Figure 3) is open at its upper side beam, of an electromagnetically vibrated to the underside of the feed hopper 71 into 10 feed regulator, the latter comprising a re which a supply of tea or other material is i ceptacle which is open at its upper side to the placed, and preferably the feed regulator lower end of the hopper, and is also open at and the delivery portion of the hopper overits underside above the weigh beam pan, the lap as shown sufiiciently to avoid escape of inlet and outlet being separated by a transmaterial without interfering with the requi- 5 verse partition which prevents flow of masite :t'ree lateral movement of the regulator. terial through the feed regulator excepting The latter is also open at its underside, and when the latter is subjected to a horizontal transversely across the interior is arranged vibratory movement. a partition '5 which separates the upper and In the two accompanying sheets of ex lower parts ot the regulator whilst allowing 2o planatory drawings tree communication between those parts at Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 one end of the partition. In effect, the ara plan of a portion of an automatic weighrangement is such that the partition forms ing machine constructed in accordance with the bottom of the receptacle by which the this invention. feed is regulated, and at one side of the re- 23 Figure 3 is a cross section of the feeding ceptacle a passage is formed through which 7 device. the material can flow to the outlet at the Figure 4 is a plan of an arrangement in underside of the receptacle. It will be underwhich a pair of feeding devices are arranged stood that any construction 01": regulator to deliver into the same weigh pan. equivalent to the above, may be employed. 0 In carrying the invention into effect as When the regulator is at rest, no material 30 shown, in Figure 13, we employ any concan flow through it from the hopper to the venient form of counter-balanced weigh beam weigh pan. Delivery of material only ocat having a weigh pan Z) at one end. The curs when a relatively rapid lateral vibraweigh pan may be adapted in any convenient tion of reciprocatory movement is imparted 35 manner to discharge its contents after the to the regulator. The material is then shaken proper weight of material has been su )plied through in a manner which enables the reto it. The discharge of the pan may e etquiredaccurate weighing of small quantities tected by electromagnetic means controlled to be obtained. The amplitude of vibration by the weigh beam; this feature forms no of the arm (Z is limited by stops 7:. The l1I1 40 part of our present invent-ion. pact of the arm against the steps may be Above the pan is arranged a receptacle 0 utilized to promote free fiow of material herein termed the feed regulator. This re through the feed regulator. ceptacle is carried by a horizontal spring 0011- By this invention we are able to construct trolled arm 03 which is pivoted at c and is an automatic weighing machine of very capable of being vibrated in a horizontal simple form involving a small number 01 9 plane under the action of an electromagnet moving parts. Machines of this kind are or solenoid The required intermittent inparticularly suited to the weighing out of terruption of the magnet circuit is effected small quantities of tea in large restaurants by a contact device 9 in conjunction with where uniformity in the quantity of the tea 50 the arm. To set the arm in motion, it is served out to the customers, and economy in the machine is also applicable to other like uses.

The invention is not limited to any particular subordinate details, as these may be varied to meet ditl erent requirements. F or some purposes it is ad vant-ageous to employ a pair of teed regulators, one for delivering what is known as the coarse feed to the weigh pen, and the other for delivering the line teed, or dribble, whereby the weighing is completed. Each regulator receives its own supply of material from a hopper and both discharge into the same weigh pan beneath. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure l, the arrangement being a duplication of that already described. The rate at which material is delivered by the dribble regulator is less than that of the coarse feed regulator, and the difference may be produced either by making the passage 7' smaller, or by adjusting the rate or amplitude of oscillation of the regulator or by restricting the supply from the hopper, or in any other convenient manner.

The machine illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is particularly adapted for weighing small quantities of tea in cafes each delivery corresponding to the amount required in a given tea pot. The pivoted door at at the bottom of the weigh pan is held closed by a spring or weight (not shown) and is provided with an opening lever a. The door can be opened for the discharge of the contents by a push piece 0 actuated by a knob 79. The push rod acts on abell crank lever Q controlled by a spring 1. A finger piece 3/ on the long arm of the lever Q is arranged to strike the lover a and so open the door when the knob 79 is pressed inwards. The lever Q is normally locked by a lever t, one end of which engages the lever q whilst the other end rests on a peg u on the weigh pan, the lever 25 being counterweighted. This locking device prevents the weigh pan from being emptied until its charge is complete. hen the weigh pan drops after receiving a proper charge, the adjacent end of the lever 6 falls with it and allows the other end to release the lever q. Secured to the weigh pan is an arm 1; carrying an indicator i0 visible through an opening The indicator serves to tell the attendantthat the pan has dropped and is ready for the delivery of its charge.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In automatic weighing machines, the combination comprising a supply hopper, a weigh pan, a weigh beam on which the pan is carried, a vibratory feed regulator located between the hopper and the weigh pan, and electromagnetic means for vibrating the regulator, the said regulator comprising a receptacle which is open at its upper side to the lower end of the hopper, and is also open at its under side above the weigh beam pan and a transverse partition which separates the inlet side from the outlet side and prevents flow of material through the regulator excepting when the latter is subjected to a horizontal vibratory movement, substantially as described.

2. In automatic weighing machines, the combination comprising a supply hopper, a weigh pan, a weigh beam on which the pan is mounted, a feed regulator located between the hopper and the weigh pan, a pivoted arm capable of oscillating in a horizontal plane and having the regulator mounted thereon, and electromagnetic means acting on the arm for producing the vibratory movements, the regulator coniprising a receptacle which is open at its upper side to the lower end of the hopper, and is also open at its under side above the weigh beam pan, and a transverse partition which separates the inlet side trom the outlet side and prevents flow of material through the regulator excepting when the latter is subjected to a horizontal vibratory movement, substantially as described.

3. In automatic Weighing machines, the combination con'iprising a supply hopper, a weigh pan, a weigh beam on which the pan is mounted, a vibratory teed regulator located between the hopper and the pan, a pivoted arm on which the regulator, is mounted, a spring adapted to impart motion to the arm in one direction, an electromagnetic device for imparting movement to the arm in the opposite direction, these movements being in a horizontal plane, a contact breaker actuated by the arm for controlling the circuit containing the said clectron'iagnetic means, and stops for limiting the movement of the arm, the said :teed regulator comprising a receptacle which is open at its upper side to the lower end of the hopper, and is also open at its under side above the weigh beam pan, and a transverse partition which separates the inlet side .trom the outlet side and prevents flow of material through the regulator excepting when the latter is subjected to a horizontal vibratory movement, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic weighing machine as claimed in claim 1, the combination with the weigh pan, of a hinged delivery door on the pan, a door actuating lever pivoted on the machine, a locking lever pivoted on. the machine and adapted to engage the actuating lever, means on the pan for controlling the locking lever, and a finger piece for imparting movement to the actuating lever, substantially as described.

5. In. an automatic weighing machine as claimed in claim 1, the combination with the Weigh pan, of a hinged delivery door on the pan, a door actuating lever pivoted on the machine, a locking lever pivoted on the machine and adapted to engage the actuating lever, means on the pan for controlling the locking lever, a finger piece for imparting movement to the actuating lever, and an indicator attached to the Weigh pan, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification.

ARTHUR SMITH. CHRISTOPHER SOUTHALL. 

